Unlock the power of cashback with Quidco

Written By Emma Berridge

One of the most effective ways to get a little something back from your spending is through cashback websites, and Quidco is one of the most popular platforms in the UK for this purpose. So lets look at how Quidco works, why we should use it, and how you can maximize your cashback rewards.

What is Quidco?

Quidco is a cashback website that partners with thousands of retailers to offer cashback on your purchases. When you shop online through Quidco’s links, you earn a percentage of your spend back as cash. This platform includes a wide range of categories, from fashion and electronics to travel and utilities, making it a versatile tool for saving money on almost anything you buy.

Quidco makes money by using an affiliate link, charging a commission to the retailers for navigating you to their website. It doesn’t cost you a penny!

How do I use Quidco?

  1. Sign-Up: Start by creating a free account on Quidco. The registration process is very simple and straightforward, requiring only basic information and only taking a few minutes.
    Sign-up here for £15 extra credit

  2. Browse Retailers: Once you're logged in, you can browse or search for retailers on Quidco. They have partnerships with over 4,500 retailers, so chances are, your favourite stores are included.

  3. Shop Through Quidco: To earn cashback, click on the retailer's link provided on the Quidco site. This redirects you to the retailer’s website, where you can shop as usual.

  4. Track Your Purchases: After you complete your purchase, Quidco tracks the transaction. Cashback is typically confirmed within a few days, but it can take up to several weeks for the money to become payable.

  5. Withdraw Your Cashback: Once your cashback is confirmed and payable, you can withdraw it to your bank account, PayPal, or choose to receive it as gift vouchers for certain retailers.

What are the benefits of Quidco?

  1. Save Money Effortlessly: Earning cashback on purchases you were going to make anyway is a simple way to save money. It’s like getting a discount after you’ve already checked out. Quidco is so simple to use, there is no reason not to take advantage on those purchases you were already going to make.

  2. Wide Range of Retailers: Quidco partners with a diverse array of retailers, so you can earn cashback on a variety of products and services, from groceries and clothing to holidays and insurance.

Watch-outs When Using Cashback Sites?

  1. Clear Your Cookies First: Sometimes there are tracking problems, which can result in not receiving payout. Cashback sites work through retailers tracking cookies, and any existing cookies you have on your laptop / phone could cause some contention as to how you ended up at the retailer. Make sure to click through directly from Quidco just before making the purchase (rather than coming back to the page later), to try to minimise the risk of this. Also, remember payout is not always guaranteed, so see the cashback as a nice bonus for doing something that was very minimal effort, but don’t rely too heavily on it!

  2. Payout Time Can Be Long: It can take days or even weeks to get approved and into the bank account. I’ve never personally had a problem getting the money but it has taken some time before, and other users have reported occasional issues.

  3. Don’t Change Spending Habits: Sometimes the retailers Quidco has are more expensive than competitors, or it’s easy to get attracted to purchasing things you might not have considered before! Make sure you shop around on price first, and then use Quidco to buy, rather than the other way around. Also, remember, even if you are getting 10% back, if you were not going to buy the item in the first place, it’s cost you more.

Tips to Maximise Your Quidco Earnings

  1. Regularly Check for Offers Before Buying Something: It takes two seconds to check if the store you want to buy from is on Quidco, so make it a habit to check.

  2. Special Offers and Bonuses: Quidco often has special promotions, higher cashback rates, and bonus cashback offers that can help you save even more, so if you have flexibility in when you will buy, sometimes it’s worth it to wait for a great offer.

  3. Use Quidco’s Browser Extension: The Quidco browser extension alerts you when cashback is available on a retailer’s site, ensuring you never miss an opportunity to save.

  4. Combine Cashback with Other Discounts: Use Quidco in conjunction with discount codes and sales to maximise your savings. For example, you can also get cashback or points from your Amex by paying for your purchases with your credit card. Just ensure that using a discount code won’t invalidate your cashback – check the retailer’s terms on Quidco.

  5. Refer Friends: Quidco’s referral program allows you to earn bonus cashback by referring friends and family to the platform. When they sign up and start earning, you get a reward, and they do too! For example, you can use my sign-up link to get £15 credit, whilst also helping me to fund this blog!

  6. Sign-up to Quidco Premium: For a small fee (£1 per month you use it, taken out of your cashback), Quidco offers a premium membership that provides higher cashback rates and faster payments.

  7. Stay Informed: Sign up for Quidco’s newsletter and follow their social media accounts to stay updated on the latest deals and offers.

What are some of the other cashback sites?

  • Swagbucks

Emma Berridge